"JOHN FRANCO, MEET PAT LACHANCE"

That was the carrot at the end of the Friday night (Sept. 30) stick for trainer/driver Pat Lachance after his last-to-first, 53-1, eight-hole upset with Ace of Clubs. The bombardier paid an even $108 to win the fifth race going away by 3 1/4 lengths.

Just outside the winner's circle was an impromptu meet-and-great with New York Mets' Hall of Famer John Franco.

Franco, a native New Yorker and one of baseball's all-time standout relief pitchers, was visiting Empire City Casino @ Yonkers Raceway. Franco and Amazin' fans were at Dan Rooney's Sports Bar as the Mets took on the Philadelphia Phillies in a game with wild-card playoff implications.

Spirited conversation and autographed photos (of Franco, not Lachance. Sorry, Pat) was also included in the evening.